Another shining example of islam’s refusal to coexist with the indigenous culture. Yes, that was a cheap shot at those stupid t-shirts that imbecil hippies wear that read “COEXIST”, with the C being a red crescent (symbol of islam) the X being the Star of David (Judaism) and the T a cross (Christianity). Funny how the crescent comes first. I am sure it’s just a coincidence.
Cultural divide: Mosque doesn’t agree with restaurant’s plan to serve alcohol
It’s a Fort Sanders clash of cultures and good intentions.
On one side of the disagreement is a Muslim mosque, and some of its worshippers are unhappy about plans for a new restaurant that will serve alcohol.
On the opposing end of the clash is a business owner who says he’s invested $1 million to upgrade a blighted building and has tried to accommodate Muslim worshippers during spiritual holidays.
The two entities – The Hill restaurant and the Anoor mosque – are a mere 191 feet apart.
Building owner Trevor Hill wants to offer alcoholic drinks along with home-cooking-style dinner and lunch menus, and he hopes to launch the eatery in about a week. He’ll keep the restaurant open as late at night as is still profitable in hope of appealing to the young residents of Fort Sanders, where the building is located.
The possibility that the restaurant could serve as a local drinking hangout bothers mosque attendees like board member Nadeem Sidiqqi.
Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol, but Sidiqqi said the protest isn’t an attack on drinking in general, just a call for buffer zones for religious establishments.
“People may say ‘we may not want to go to this mosque’ if it’s not a good environment,” Sidiqqi said. “You want an area where you can bring your kids or your family.”
Hill counters that mosque-goers are unlikely to be disturbed by noise or patrons from his restaurant. The entrances are on opposites sides of the two buildings, and Hill said that he has offered to work with mosque board members during the holy period of Ramadan, when Knoxville-area Muslims often pray at the mosque late into the night.
Hill feels he is being unjustly targeted.
“I’ve taken a building that’s been a total eyesore … really gone out on a limb and taken a risk for the benefit of the Fort Sanders community,” he said, explaining that he has a mortgage and roughly a $1 million investment in the building. “It’s not fair for me to be discriminated against any more than it is for them to be discriminated against.”
The two buildings are 191 feet apart, though the distance between their front doors is longer.
The mosque, which also has a walled courtyard, is at 100 13th Street; the restaurant will be at 1105 Forest Ave.
Knoxville’s local beer ordinance establishes a 300-foot buffer zone around churches and other similar institutions for a beer permit but waives the requirement if the establishment is granted a liquor license by the state of Tennessee.
Wanda Day, an employee with the Knoxville Beer Board, said in the past year one or two other establishments have obtained liquor licenses and subsequently beer permits, despite being within 300 feet of a church or school.
Hill is busy completing the last steps toward getting local Alcoholic Beverage Commission approval for his liquor license.
Virginia Stooksbury, administrative secretary at the Knoxville ABC office, said she’s heard complaints from a couple members of the Knoxville Muslim community, but unless there’s a legal reason to deny Hill a permit, the office will give him the go-ahead.
The local office’s recommendation is being sent on to the Nashville office, where the assistant director will make the final decision.
Jessie Pounds is a freelance contributor to the News Sentinel.
Yeah, way to integrate into MY country, a****les. Cultural divide, my ass! Just like the “cultural divide in the Untied Kingdumb, where shariah law runs the muslim ghettos. Just like the cultural divide in France where muslims ring in the new year by torching cars, and attacking police officers. Just like the cultural divide in Holland, where Theo van Gogh had his throat slit for saying islam is violent.
Any time I set foot in a muslim country, I can’t even get a slice of ham. Now these moon-god worshipping clowns want to bring that crap called shariah into the heartland? I hope the assistant director gives them the license, and that they start having a happy hour special on beer.
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- Baghdad mosque served as torture chamber, execution room
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